Next betting push in North Carolina: Play casino games on your phone
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Soon you'll be able bet on sporting events and play instant lottery games from your phone in North Carolina.
Why, then, shouldn't North Carolinians be able to digitally spin a roulette wheel, hit a blackjack or toss the dice in craps for real money on an iCasino app?
That's the question that advocates for iCasino or iGaming are increasingly asking state lawmakers, hoping to get included in a late-session proposal to allow commercial casinos and video lottery terminals in the state.
"It's a natural fit and should be included in the conversation," said Scott Ward, vice president of the Sports Betting Alliance, which includes Draft Kings, FanDuel, Bet MGM and Fanatics Sportsbook.
The outlets are better known for their sports betting apps, but they all have separate casino apps. Six states (Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia) have legalized iCasinos.
As North Carolina lawmakers work to pass an overdue budget, they are contemplating allowing four additional casinos in rural parts of the state as well as video lottery terminals statewide. iCasinos will be discussed, said Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, in that context.
"There will be a conversation about it," Berger said. "One of the things that we have to be cognizant of, and I think we've thinking about this in terms of where in North Carolina potential casinos would be located, is the idea of some sort of market saturation and whether or not the more that you have on the phone that looks like a slot machine and acts like a slot machine, do you diminish the expectation that you have as far as the revenue is concerned from other things we're considering."
House Republicans have yet to caucus on the casino issue, Speaker Tim Moore said once again Thursday.
"Digital gaming is, you say the way of the future, I'd say the way of today," Moore said.
It is in North Carolina.
Online sports betting is set to begin in North Carolina in 2024, and the North Carolina Lottery Commission on Tuesday approved the sale of digital instant games by Nov. 15,
iCasinos would be another step in that direction, allowing for traditional table games as well as slots typically found in casinos to be played on phones or other electronic devices. States can approve some or all of the games. They come with the same identity verification and geolocation regulations as online sports betting.
"If you're going to be more gaming legislation, it makes sense to include this," Ward said, especially if lawmakers are looking for additional revenue. "This is where the consumer is now."
Ward said iGaming would generate $300 million in tax revenue to the state and could do so almost immediately unlike VLTs or brick-and-mortar casinos, which would have to be built.
Ward said data from other states shows the online games attract a different audience than brick-and-mortar casinos.
But part of the attraction in building physical casinos is the local economic boost they are expected to provide.
"It actually has the prospect not only of revenue to the state, but creating jobs for people," Berger said. "It is, I think, the only form of gaming where you're going to see a significant creation of new jobs to the state, whereas you're not going to see that with something on people's phones.
"Those are concerns that I certainly have, and I think there will be things that will be discussed as we're deciding whether or not to move forward."
The lottery already sells draw games, such as Pick 3 or Powerball, online. The digital instant games have the feel of slot machine games with a game play and provide immediate win or loss. The lottery commission projected that within five years digital instant games would generate more than $415 million in revenue for the state.
"I really don't think that they had the authority to do that under current law," Moore said. "It's a gray area as told to me. I actually support the notion of going to the video lottery terminals, going to video terminals. I think the way that that should be done is through the legislature authorizing that."
Moore, however, expressed concerns about digital gaming's impacts on the state, saying betting on a phone app could lead to "even more reckless activity in terms of gaming."
"I've got real concerns with the iGaming right now," Moore said. "I really do. I need to hear more data to know 100% where I am. But everything I hear right now causes concerns."
